String Spacing: Where does it really matter?

[superheavyfunk]

A question for those of you that think this is an important decision when buying a new bass: When it comes to string spacing, which is more important - the spacing at the nut, or at the bridge?

I’m trying to decide between a couple of basses right now and on one of them, I only know the spacing at the nut… on the other, I only know the spacing at the bridge. Can’t seem to find any additional specs, or get first hand accounts on the matter from anyone so it got me thinking about all this.

I gotta say, I think the nut spacing is way more important to me than the spacing at the bridge.

 

[Bass V]

for me it's at the nut, I need consistency there in every way. I'd bet for most it's the bridge.

 

[NikkiVibes]

Totally the bridge for me. It only matters for me with five strings. The closer spacing felt "crowded".
I figure most 4s are 19mm at the bridge but some might be smaller.

 

[Inara]

At the bridge for me, and I'm different than many, in that while I like standard-spaced 4-strings, I like narrow-spaced 5's. For my plucking hand, I'm much more sensitive to the total spacing between top and bottom strings than I am to the spacing between individual strings. 16.5 or 17mm works well for me on a 5, while 19mm does not, for this reason. But I'm weird in lots of other ways, too, lol.

 

[pcake]

the nut for me if the bridge spacing isn't insanely wide. i've played at least a couple hundred basses (probably far more) and have only run into a couple basses where the bridge spacing was an issue.

 

[5StringBlues]

Can't play closely space 5 string bases very well, other than that I don't really think about it so I'd say bridge.

 

[Nebadon2000]

On 4 string I don't like 1.5 at nut; I played P with 1.75 at nut for 25yrs so 1.5 feels cramped.
I have 1.625 now it took time to adjust to that but I have.
Still would prefer something like 1.7

I passed on 5 strings because most I tried early on had 16-17.5mm string spacing I would prefer 19mm

 

[Burwabit]

Totally the bridge for me. It only matters for me with five strings. The closer spacing felt "crowded".
I figure most 4s are 19mm at the bridge but some might be smaller.

Most 4s are 20mm, that’s why 18mm feels tight to me on a 5. I definitely prefer a 5 to have 19mm.

 

[Slevage]

Both, but the bridge has a bigger influence.
FWIW, I also play EUB and UB.

 

[Element Zero]

It’s all about the bridge. I played many years on my Ibanez ATK305 which has 16.5 mm spacing. Tight, but it’s all I really knew for a long time. Fender 5s felt friggin HUGE and really forced me to stretch to skip strings. I had Mike build me a Pentabuzz with 17.5 and that felt “right”. My Fodera is adjustable but if I lined everything up it’d be 19, however I squeeze it as tight as it’ll go which is maybe just under 18? My Music Man SR5 (I believe, never measured) has 17.5 and it feels excellent.

 

[Al T.]

I prefer 18 or 19 mm bridge and 1.75 " minimum nut, 1.875 "is best for me.

 

[themickster]

A question for those of you that think this is an important decision when buying a new bass: When it comes to string spacing, which is more important - the spacing at the nut, or at the bridge?

I’m trying to decide between a couple of basses right now and on one of them, I only know the spacing at the nut… on the other, I only know the spacing at the bridge. Can’t seem to find any additional specs, or get first hand accounts on the matter from anyone so it got me thinking about all this.

I gotta say, I think the nut spacing is way more important to me than the spacing at the bridge.

The nut for me.

 

[buldog5151bass]

The UT. That's why I never got comfortable with a Hofner.

 

[crguti]

I changed the bridge in 1 of my 5 strings to a small string spacing bridge. It is the best 5 string bass I own now.

 

[Modulus 96]

Bridge for me too. I picked up a wide five and my plucking fingers are missing the strings, took a while to get too. Now when I go back to my other basses they feel super cramped everywhere. I might sell the wide five...

 

[burgerdj]

Nut width and string spacing are certainly related, but I find them to be individually important considerations. Nut width helps me determine the level of left hand/fretting hand fatigue, but bridge spacing is crucial for me to be able to skip strings, play chords, etc. - especially important on a 5 string. For me, I’m limited to no more than 17mm at the bridge and prefer 16.5mm.

 

[chris_b]

My requirement is for 19mm at bridge. I'll accept 18mm.

So far I haven't found a nut width that mattered to me.

I did a fly gig and was happy they provided a 5 string bass. Then I discovered it only had about 16mm at the bridge. Took me a whole gig to readjust and I never felt comfortable for the rest of the trip.

Tone, weight and string spacing at the bridge are my only show stoppers.

 

[EngrSorenson]

Put me down for both. I played for 8 years on a single spacing, and then switched to another for 12. I went back to the original bass and it felt like I’d returned home after a long time away. Can’t explain it.

 

[Naigewron]

Both, really. But I guess the nut is where it screws me up most. I can deal with narrow spacing at the bridge, but when strings are too close at the nut I really struggle to play. Typical Jazz Basses are really difficult for me, definitely prefer a much wider spacing at the nut.

 

[rtav]

The bridge.